Dhan Dhan Guru De Pyarai
Daughter of Sri Guru Gobind Sahib Ji
Daughter of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji
Fearless Warriors
Courageous Mothers
Determined Daughters
They suffered great in-humane tortures
Watch their children bleed to death
Witnessed the brutal murder of their husbands
Yet, they fought for freedom and faith
Remembered Guru Ji in every breath
And were an Inspiration to all Sikhs
We are a Kaur Princess
We are a Brave Lioness
We are the Daughters of the Khalsa

Daughters of the Khalsa

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Martyrdom anniversary of Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji

The month of June since 1606, Sikhs have commemorated the martyrdom of their first martyr, the fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev. Sikh history until then had been peaceful and non-violent. All the Sikh Gurus had taught the message of compassion, love, dedication, hard work, belief of one God and the commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world.

During the Guruship of Guru Arjan many thousands of the native people had began to follow the teachings of Sikhism and both the Hindus and Muslims were crowding to Gobindwal, the centre of Sikh during the late 1500's. Guru Arjan Sahib Maharaj’s act of total surrender and devotion, of willing to give his head is commemorated every year. It was through his selfless courage, absolute love, and total fearlessness that he became the first martyr in Sikhi.

But how did Guru Arjan Sahib Ji become fearless, and selfless? How was he raised by his mother, to have such a consciousness? Everyone has the Light of the Divine within them. That is never the question. But to live that Light unto death - that is a matter of training and the mother is the first training ground of the soul. What values did His mothers instil in him? What discipline? What stories? How did His mothers teach him? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a parenting book for Sikhs based on how Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s Mother raised him?

...Truly, Bibi Bhaniji must have been a Khalsa Mother, even though the Khalsa had not yet come to life...

Bibi BhaniJi has a unique place in the Sikh history. She is the noble lady who was, Daughter of a Guru (Guru Amardas),Wife of a Guru (Guru Ram Das),Mother of a Guru (Guru Arjan Dev),Grandmother of a Guru (Guru Hargobind),Great Grandmother of a Guru (Guru Tegh Bahadar)and Great, Great Grandmother of a Guru (Guru Gobind Singh).

Whether we consider her as a Daughter or Mother. She was a symbol of service. In the Sikh history, she is known as an embodiment of service. There is special status of Bibi Bhani in the life of Guru Amardas by the way she cared for her father proving that there was no difference between a son and a daughter. Both can equally serve their parents

She was married in the beginning of 1553. She served Bhai Jetha (Sri Guru Ram Das Ji) not only as a husband but also as a saint. She was so contented that she never complained about the poverty of her in-laws. She kept serving her father even after her marriage, as her in-laws were local. She continued doing her worldly duties along with the service of her father. Her husband continued serving in the common kitchen even after his marriage. They had three sons, Prithi Chand, Maha Dev, and Arjan Dev. Prithi Chand was arrogant, lazy, and dishonest, but still wanted the Guruship after his father. He wanted that his Mother should recommend him for Guruship. She advised him that the decision made by his father would be on merit and she remained neutral. When Guru Arjan Dev was selected for Guruship, Prithi Chand misbehaved with his father.

Bibi Bhani snubbed Prithi Chand and admonished him. She said to him that the decision made by his father was impartial. This has been the tradition from the time of Guru Nanak. She also said, “Your father was also selected on the basis of his service and humility.” Bibi Bhani always stood for truth.

After the death of Guru Ram Das, Bibi Bhani helped her son, Guru Arjan Dev, in every activity undertaken by him and advised him She persuaded Guru Arjan Dev to remarry after the death of his first wife. It seems Guru Arjan Dev has mentioned her blessings and advice in one of his hymns given on Ang 496 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib:

Goojaree, Fifth Mehla:

Remembering Him, all sins are erased, and ones generations are saved.

So meditate continually on the Lord, Har, Har; He has no end or limitation. II1II

O son, this is your mother's hope and prayer, that you may never forget the Lord,

Har, Har, even for an instant. May you ever vibrate upon the Lord of the Universe. II1IIPauseII

May the True Guru be kind to you, and may you love the Society of the Saints.

May the preservation of your honor by the Transcendent Lord be your clothes, and may the singing of His Praises be your food. II2II

So drink in forever the Ambrosial Nectar; may you live long, and may the meditative remembrance of the Lord give you infinite delight.

May joy and pleasure be yours; may your hopes be fulfilled, and may you never be troubled by worries. II3II

Let this mind of yours be the bumble bee, and let the Lord's feet be the lotus flower. Says servant Nanak, attach your mind to them, and blossom forth like the song-bird, upon finding the rain-drop. II4II3II4II